TRWVPS 37

Chapter 37

Tears fell from Lillia’s eyes.

Amon, who had been watching Ferdin, was startled and quickly spoke to her.

“Lillia! Are you okay?”

Lillia shook her head. Of course, she wasn’t okay.

“I… I… Erin Lyser… I thought you…”

—I thought you killed Calyps. I’ve believed that all this time, and I’ve lived carrying that belief. But maybe it wasn’t true. What are you hiding?

Lillia’s whole body trembled.

Until now, she had believed Erin was the one who killed Calyps. She had to believe it—because that was the only way she could survive.

But then… what about Erin Lyser?

The girl who had been condemned by everyone for a crime she didn’t even commit? Lillia felt dizzy.

The horrifying truth that she had just realized dragged her down into a swamp of despair.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I—”

But Lillia’s words never reached Erin.

Erin had already sunk into a deep sleep from her accumulated exhaustion.

“So much for being a Sword Master.”

The moment she opened her eyes and saw the unfamiliar ceiling, Erin scoffed.

When she tried to sit up, a sharp pain flared in her side, making her grimace. Erin admitted to herself that her method of handling the Wolf Tribe’s chief had been a bit reckless.

But against someone that strong, there was no way to subdue him without harming others if she fought “normally.”

At the same time, if she had unleashed her full strength, Ferdin and his people might have been injured.

And since Ferdin was already suffering from internal wounds, she had wanted to end things quickly and leave that place.

So Erin had chosen to “yield the flesh to claim the bone”—taking injuries in order to strike decisively. It had been a long time since she had been hurt this badly.

If the Wolf Tribe’s chief hadn’t been in a berserk state, she would never have chosen such a method.

Thinking this, Erin turned her head to the side—only to freeze stiff when she saw Ferdin right there.

Why is he beside me?

What’s more, Ferdin was holding her right hand. Erin instinctively tried to pull it back, but stopped, afraid she might wake him. She froze in place, unable to move at all.

She didn’t know how long she stayed like that, rigid and tense, before someone opened the door and entered.

“Erin Lyser? You’re awake?”

Erin was startled at the sight of the unexpected visitor.

Lillia was looking at her with a worried expression.

Lillia… worrying about me? Am I dreaming?

Erin pinched her own arm with her free hand. Instantly, the skin reddened, and pain spread sharply.

Lillia, shocked by the sight, rushed toward her.

“What on earth are you doing? Take care of yourself a little!”

She grabbed Erin’s arm and cast healing magic.

This… doesn’t even need healing magic though?

Erin couldn’t hide her confusion. Lillia’s sudden kindness was so strange that she couldn’t adjust to it.

Her heart tingled with a strange fluttering feeling, and she held her breath for a moment.

“Ferdin, wake up. I need to talk with Erin Lyser alone.”

“Lillia?”

Erin called her name in surprise at Lillia suddenly trying to wake Ferdin.

At her voice, Ferdin’s eyes slowly opened. With a dazed gaze, he stared silently at Erin.

Those clear blue eyes made Erin feel as though her heart had stopped.

“Am I still dreaming?”

Ferdin murmured, blinking slowly. Then, he leaned his cheek against her hand.

The warmth of his cheek spread across the back of Erin’s hand.

Her face flushed red, like a ripe apple.

Seeing this, Lillia let out a sigh of disbelief.

“Your Highness Ferdin Rexia, this isn’t a dream. So, could you please get up and leave? I have something very important to discuss with Sir Erin.”

At her words, Ferdin’s gaze shifted from Lillia back to Erin.

For a long moment, he stayed that way, then finally spoke in a voice full of confusion.

“Sir Erin… my apologies. I mistook you for someone else.”

Did he mistake me for Lady Asili? Erin thought. That would explain why he had acted so tenderly toward her.

With that in mind, she carefully pulled her hand free. She didn’t want to do anything that might hurt Lady Asili.

Ferdin’s eyes followed her hand as it slipped away.

“Are you feeling alright?”

His face looked somewhat gaunt as he asked.

The words were exactly what she wanted to ask him. Erin simply nodded without speaking.

Only then did he smile, looking relieved.

“I’m so glad. You wouldn’t wake no matter how long I waited… I was truly worried.”

“……”

“There’s something I must say to you.”

“Something you must say?”

“Yes. When we’re at the Academy, could you spare me some time? I’d like to talk there.”

Erin nodded gravely.

Was he going to question her identity? No matter how generous he might be, there was no way he wouldn’t ask why she had hidden her power.

He must find it strange that she had concealed being a Sword Master.

“Then I’ll wait for you. Please, have your conversation now.”

With that, Ferdin left the room, though his ears were red.

Watching him go, Erin let out a breath of relief. It seemed his injuries weren’t as severe as she had feared, though he wasn’t completely healed yet.

Once he saw Lady Asili, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to recover fully.

“Erin.”

At Lillia’s voice, Erin turned her head.

She was sitting beside the bed, where Ferdin had been, looking directly at her.

Erin? Not ‘Erin Lyser’?

Erin couldn’t hide her surprise.

Lillia had always addressed her formally, always adding her family name—as if to reinforce the distance between them.

Clap.

At the sound of Lillia’s hands clapping, Erin realized a barrier had been cast inside the room.

Most likely a soundproofing spell.

After confirming the spell worked, Lillia spoke in a low voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I’m sorry, Erin Lyser.”

“Why… why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

Erin hid her trembling hands behind her back. Her eyes wavered uneasily.

Why was Lillia apologizing to her?

“I was the one who changed your clothes.”

“……”

“I saw your wounds. Ferdin and Amon must’ve noticed too… but I know what they’re thinking. They’re keeping your secret because you don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s…”

Erin had always feared speaking the truth.

‘Erin, I’m the only one who’ll ever believe you.’

For an instant, she imagined Raymond whispering in her ear.

It felt like the ghost of the dead man was still clinging to her shoulder.

‘Do you really think Lillia will believe you if you tell her? Don’t make me laugh.’

‘You are a murderer. In truth, you’re no different from the one who killed Calyps.’

‘So keep your mouth shut. That’s what suits you best.’

Shut up, Raymond.

Erin knew all too well what had always happened whenever she tried to open her mouth.

Lost in those memories, Erin remained silent, so Lillia spoke again, her face full of desperation.

“But I want to know. I have to know how Calyps died. If you weren’t the one who killed him… then who did?”

Every time Erin had told the truth, most people had condemned her. And the few who believed her… had ended up dead.

Since then, she had been terrified of telling the truth. Afraid that someone else might die because of her.

Afraid that they might vanish from her side.

At that moment, Lillia grasped Erin’s hand. Warmth spread from her touch.

Even after two lifetimes of reincarnation, Erin was still afraid, still terrified—of what would happen if she spoke.

Lillia looked down at her trembling hand and continued.

“I know… I’m in no position to ask this of you.”

“……”

“I… hated you, based only on what others told me. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of wound that must’ve left on you.”

At her words, Erin closed her eyes.

Normally, she hadn’t planned to speak of the past to anyone until her plans were fully accomplished.

But Lillia… Lillia deserved to know the truth. A resolute light shone in Erin’s eyes.

This time… maybe it will be different. No—this time, I’ll make it different.

“It’s a long… and boring story.”

Slowly, Erin began to speak about her life.

Not as the villainess Erin Lyser… but as the pitiful, timid daughter of a marquis’ household.